Chopstick assembly

ABSTRACT

A chop stick assembly includes a first section having an open top end and an open lower end into which a second section is retractable inserted. At least one hole is defined through a wall and located close to the open lower end of the first section. A connection member is connected to a top end of the second section and has a protrusion which is removably engaged with the at least one hole of the first section.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a chop stick assembly composed of at least two sections which are retractably connected with each other and a connection device is connected between the at least two sections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional chop stick assembly is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, and generally includes a first section 91 and a second section n92 which has a top end retractably inserted into a lower end of the first section 91. The first section 91 includes a gradually narrowed lower end and the second section 92 has a tapered outer shape so that when the top end of the second section 92 is moved to a position where the outer surface of the top end of the second section 92 is frictionally engaged with the gradually narrowed lower end of the first section 91. A push member 93 is connected to the top end of the first section 91 and includes an insertion with a push rod located at a center of the insertion. The insertion is inserted into the top end of the first section 91 and two recesses 931 are defined in the insertion. Two protrusions 911 extend from an inner surface of the top end of the first section 91 so as to be engaged with the recesses 931. The top end of the second section 92 can be pushed downward before using the chop stick. When the chop stick assembly is to be cleaned, the push member 93 is removed from the first section 91 so that the second section 92 can be pulled out from the top of the first section 91. However, the push member 93 has to be pulled out from the first section 91 with a sufficient effort and this is not convenient for some users. Besides, if the chop stick assembly is made by way of plastic injection molding, the sizes of the first and second sections 91, 92 have to precise enough to achieve the purposes of the design. This requires high precision molds which increase manufacturing cost.

The present invention intends to provide a chop stick assembly wherein the connection device located between the two sections includes a biasing member which allows the two sections to have larger manufacturing tolerance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a chop stick assembly which comprises a first section having an open top end and an open lower end. At least one hole is defined through a wall thereof and located close to the open lower end of the first section. A second section has a top end and a lower end. The top end of the second section has a connection member which has a protrusion which is removably engaged with the at least one hole of the first section.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a chop stick assembly wherein the second section can be easily positioned relative to the first section.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the chop stick assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the chop stick assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show that the connection member positions the second section to the first section of the chop stick assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top cross sectional view to show that the connection member positions the second section to the first section of the chop stick assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view to show the push member movably inserted into the first section;

FIG. 6 is a second embodiment of the chop stick assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows the connection member in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view to show that the resilient plates are pushed inward when the second section is inserted into the first section in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view to show that the protrusions on the resilient plates are engaged with holes in the first section in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a third embodiment of the chop stick assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view to show that the protrusions on the resilient plates are engaged with holes in the first section in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fourth embodiment of the chop stick assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view to show that the protrusion of the connection member is engaged with the hole in the first section in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 shows the C-shaped member is enclosed by the first section;

FIG. 15 shows that the outer periphery of the C-shaped member is engaged with the hole in the first section;

FIG. 16 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention wherein a mediate section is connected between the first and second sections;

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view to show two connection members are used to connect the first section, the mediate section and the third section;

FIG. 18 shows a conventional chop stick assembly, and FIG. 19 shows a push member is connected to the first section of the conventional chop stick assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the chop stick assembly of the present invention comprises a first section 1, a second section 2, a connection member 3 and a push member 40. The first section 1 has an open top end and an open lower end, at least one hole 11 is defined through a wall of the first section 1 and located close to the open lower end of the first section 1. A receiving port unit 12 is defined in the open top end of the first section 1 and includes two notches 121 and two engaging slots 122 defined in two opposite walls of the open top end of the first section 1. The two engaging slots 122 are located lowered than the two notches 121,

The second section 2 has a top end and a lower end, the top end of the second section 2 having a connection member 3 which has a protrusion 3A which is removably engaged with the at least one hole 11 of the first section 1. The top end of the second section 2 has a space 21 to accommodate the connection member 3 and includes a first slot 211 defined in a top surface of the top end of the second section 2 and a second slot 212 defined in a side of the second section 2 and communicates with the first slot 211. The first slot 211 is wider than the second slot 212.

The connection member 3 is a metal member and has a base portion 31 and a resilient portion 32 which extends from a top edge of the base portion 31. A gap is defined between the base portion 31 and the resilient portion 32 so that the resilient portion 32 can be pushed inward relative to the base portion 31. A protrusion 3A is located on an outside of the resilient portion 32. The base portion 31 is wider than the resilient portion 32 and inserted in the first slot 211 and the resilient portion 32 is movably located in the second slot 212. Two engaging projections 311 extend from the base portion 31 and contact against an inside of two walls between which the second slot 212 is defined so that the connection member 3 is not disengaged from the first slot 211.

When the second section 2 is positioned at a use position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the protrusion 3A is engaged with the at least one hole 11 to position the second section 2. When pushing the protrusion 3A inward, the second section 2 can be completely inserted into the first section 1.

As shown in FIG. 5, the push member 4 includes a frame 40 which is inserted into the open top end of the first section 1 and two resilient plates 41 extend from the frame 40. Each resilient plate 41 has a button 411 and a ridge 412 on an outside thereof, the button 411 is engaged with the notch 121 and the ridge 412 is engaged with the engaging slot 122. A push member 42 is movably inserted through the frame 40 and extends into the open top end of the first section 1 so as to push the top end of the second section 2 toward its use position. It is noted that when pushing the buttons 411 inward, the resilient plates 41 is pushed inward so that the ridges 412 are removed from the engaging slots 122. By this way, all of the parts can be separated to be cleaned.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show a second embodiment of the chop stick assembly of the present invention wherein the connection member 5 includes a rectangular base portion 51 which is fixed on the top end of the second section 2 by a screw 511 and four resilient portions 52 extend from the base portion 51. Each resilient portion 52 includes a curved section 521 and a protrusion SA is connected on the curved section 521. A stepped periphery 22 is formed in an outer surface of the top end of the second section 2 and the four resilient portions 52 are mounted on the top end of the second section 2. The resilient plates 52 are pushed inward when the second section 2 is inserted into the first section in FIG. 6, and the protrusions SA on the resilient plates 52 are engaged with the holes 11 in the first section in FIG. 6 when the second section 2 is in its use position.

FIG. 10 is a third embodiment of the chop stick assembly of the present invention, wherein the top end of the second section 2 has a central portion 23 and four resilient plates 61, both of which are integrally and co-axially connected to the top end of the second section 2. A gap 231 is defined between the central portion 23 and the four resilient plates 61 so that the resilient plates 61 have proper flexibility. Each one of the four resilient plates 61 has a protrusion 6A and the first section 1 has four holes 11 with which the protrusions 6A are engaged with the second section 2 is in its use position.

FIG. 12 is a fourth embodiment of the chop stick assembly of the present invention, wherein the connection member 7 is a C-shaped ring and a C-shaped groove 24 is defined in an outer surface of the top end of the second section 2. The C-shaped ring is engaged with the C-shaped groove 24 and an outer periphery of the C-shaped ring protrudes beyond the outer surface of the second section 2 to form the protrusion. The C-shaped connection member 7 includes two ends 71 which are engaged with a separation portion 241 defining the C-shaped groove 24 of the second section 2. As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, when the second section 2 is received in the first section 1, the C-shaped ring 7 is enclosed by the wall of the first section 1, and when the second section 2 is in its use position, the outer periphery of the C-shaped ring protrudes beyond the outer surface of the second section 2 and is engaged with the hole 11 in the first section 1.

FIG. 16 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention wherein a mediate section 8 is connected between the first and second sections 1, 2. Two connection members 3 are installed to the mediate section 8 and the second section 2 to respectively connect the mediate section 8 and the first section 1, and the mediate section 8 and the second section 2.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A chop stick assembly comprising: a first section having an open top end and an open lower end, at least one hole defined through a wall thereof and located close to the open lower end of the first section, and a second section having a top end and a lower end, the top end of the second section having a connection member which has a protrusion which is removably engaged with the at least one hole of the first section.
 2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection member is a metal member and has a base portion and a resilient portion which extends from the base portion, the protrusion is located on the resilient portion.
 3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base portion is wider than the resilient portion and a gap is defined between the base portion and the resilient portion.
 4. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the top end of the second section has a space to accommodate the connection member and includes a first slot defined in a top surface of the top end of the second section and a second slot defined in a side of the second section and communicates with the first slot, the base portion is inserted in the first slot and the resilient portion movably located in the second slot.
 5. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the top end of the second section has a space to accommodate the connection member and includes a first slot defined in a top surface of the top end of the second section and a second slot defined in a side of the second section and communicates with the first slot, the first slot is wider than the second slot, the base portion is inserted in the first slot and the resilient portion movably located in the second slot, at least one engaging projection extends from the base portion and contacts against an inside of one of two walls between which the second slot is defined.
 6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a receiving port unit is defined in the open top end of the first section and includes two notches and two engaging slots defined in two opposite walls of the open top end of the first section, the two engaging slots are located lowered than the two notches, a frame is inserted into the open top end of the first section and includes two resilient plates, each resilient plate has a button and a ridge on an outside thereof, the button is engaged with the notch and the ridge is engaged with the engaging slot, a push member is movably inserted through the frame and extends into the open top end of the first section.
 7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection member includes a base portion which is fixed on the top end of the second section and four resilient portions extend from the base portion, each resilient portion includes a curved section and the protrusion is connected on the curved section.
 8. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein a stepped periphery is formed in an outer surface of the top end of the second section and the four resilient portions are mounted on the top end of the second section.
 9. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base portion is fixed on the top end of the second section by a screw.
 10. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection member includes a central portion and four resilient plates, both of which are integrally and co-axially connected to the top end of the second section, a gap is defined between the central portion and the four resilient plates, the protrusion is connected on one of the four resilient plates.
 11. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection member is a C-shaped ring and a C-shaped groove is defined in an outer surface of the top end of the second section, the C-shaped ring is engaged with the C-shaped groove and an outer periphery of the C-shaped ring protrudes beyond the outer surface of the second section to form the protrusion.
 12. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the C-shaped connection member includes two ends which are engaged with a separation portion defining the C-shaped groove of the second section. 